“Between the Assassinations” is a portrait of life in the small town of Kittur, on the south-western coast of India, between Goa and Calicut. It is Ar“Between the Assassinations” is a portrait of life in the small town of Kittur, on the south-western coast of India, between Goa and Calicut. It is Arvind Adiga’s second book after “The White Tiger.”

The book is something between a novel and collection of short stories - it is a series of vignettes about the various characters in this town, interspersed with pieces of tourist information - a verbal map of the town and its neighbourhoods and attractions.

Adiga is very experimental in his fiction, and that’s what I enjoy in his writing. The characters are diverse and compelling - coming from a wide variety of socioeconomic and religious backgrounds.

We meet a Muslim train station coolie, a businessman disenchanted with the state of the nation, a half-caste brat, a Brahmin cook, two beggar children, a rebellious Dalit book seller, a journalist who’s losing his marbles and many more residents of this small town.

The stories are varied and the challenges of many different kinds but they paint a picture of the India that existed between the assassinations of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi - the 1980s and early 1990s. This is an India that should have been better than it was - hungover from the emergency and full of hope for better days - yet bogged down by corruption and social ills.

Each character struggles with his or her own injustices at the state of the nation and society - and each moves forward in their own way.

These tales are dark and moving, sometimes disturbing, and often one feels helpless at the plight of these characters. I didn’t enjoy all the stories equally but it gave me a good sense of what a small town might be like during this time period.

For those looking for a repeat of “The White Tiger” type of storytelling, this is a very different type of read. The subject matter is similar but the central characters are nowhere near as dark. Still it is a good read and a very quick one - would definitely recommend it! Happy reading :)...more

To Hell and Back is a fast-paced thriller with its share of surprise twists and turns. Namrata, a married young business development professional, whoTo Hell and Back is a fast-paced thriller with its share of surprise twists and turns. Namrata, a married young business development professional, whose relationship is beginning to stale, finds herself the victim of a brutal crime, the horror of which seeps through the cracks in her marriage. Renu, a traditional Haryanvi wife, finds the pressure on the outcome of her second pregnancy too much to bear. Add in the murder of a high profile entrepreneur and you’ve got Anurag Anand’s debut novel.

This is a very quick read, and one that ultimately provides an entertaining ride through the thread of narrative. Slowly, layer by layer, we uncover the truth of what had transpired. The plotting is clever and leaves you guessing until the final pages.

My only issue with this, is the protagonists very speedy recovery from a very violent crime. That it sparks a change in her is realistic and true to what one would expect. But usually people who are victims of such things do experience longer effects than those displayed by Namrata.

That said, besides this one point, I enjoyed the read. It’s a quick one, perfect for a plane or train travel, or perhaps a holiday. Happy reading!...more

Clouds is two parallel stories woven into one novel. The first is Dr. Farhad Billmoria: a Parsi psychotherapist who discovers new love and a fresh leaClouds is two parallel stories woven into one novel. The first is Dr. Farhad Billmoria: a Parsi psychotherapist who discovers new love and a fresh lease on life days before he is to part from San Francisco. The second is about an Odia tribal youth named Rabi who has traveled to Mumbai with his friend’s parents Eeja and Ooi to look after them while Eeja is unwell and his friend Bhagaban fights a local election in Odisha.

The tribe Rabi comes from worships a God called the Cloudmaker - the one who creates the clouds. Farhan contemplates that clouds are like thoughts and thinks of how the Mumbai clouds will compare to those in California.

There are several things I liked about this book. As someone who is half Odia I relished the opportunity to read about Odisha and it’s tribal population, and the cultural gulf between East and West of the country and even between Hindu and Adivasi.

The theme of home, belonging and identity is very prominent in these stories. Farhad is done with Mumbai, with Parsi community, though he briefly explores it again. Eeja, Rabi and Ooi find Mumbai to be a strange place and yearn for their homelands in Bhubaneswar and Tininadi. But ultimately all find peace in the places they are and the concept of being present is key to this.

Choudhury’s writing is funny, witty and light, yet possesses a charm that makes you what to drone in his language. I enjoy the quality of his prose. However though all the elements are there: compelling characters, intelligent and skilful writing and beautiful metaphors and messages of Home and belonging, somehow the whole thing was too fragmented to hold together in my mind. I enjoyed the book but felt there was something missing, something I cannot articulate.

That said Clouds is a light read and worth experiencing Choudhury’s prose. I know I will definitely be reading more of this author in the near future. Happy reading!...more

one old British Bungalow in the heart of South Bombay with1. A terrifying domineering matriarch2. A feeble indecisive father3. A frail sPicture this:

one old British Bungalow in the heart of South Bombay with1. A terrifying domineering matriarch2. A feeble indecisive father3. A frail spinster aunt, 4. A rebellious eldest son5. A Muslim daughter-in-law6. An embittered eldest daughter struggling to accept herself after a bad accident7. A naive but beautiful younger daughter 8. A teenage son hovering at the boundaries of adulthood9. A 12-year old school boy10. The friendly family ghost

All of these with a few extras make up the inmates of the Barrot House, on Rompton Road Bombay.

Set amidst the beginnings of religious tensions that year the city apart after the destruction of the Babri Masjid in 1992, the book is as much about Bombay as it is about the members of this largely dysfunctional family.

This is a heart warming story about coming together in the face of obstacles, and allowing love to overcome all. It is a metaphor for the city - to remember that we are in this together and are united in spite of our differences.

I’ve been reading a lot of fiction about Mumbai of late, and one thing that always comes through is the spirit. But this pre-communalism unity existed elsewhere before politics and mob mentality tore it apart - I hope not just Mumbai, but the entire country can find that peace again. Diversity should be our strength and not our weakness.

Loved this one and would highly recommend. It’s a quick one too! Happy reading! ...more

So the tendency with actors and other celebrities who write books is to be super judgmental and harsh, and / or to not take them seriously. I decidedSo the tendency with actors and other celebrities who write books is to be super judgmental and harsh, and / or to not take them seriously. I decided to skip the preconceived notions, and am so glad I did!

This book is a light read that took me less than a day to finish - and I loved it! Twinkle Khanna has this fascinating way of perceiving the world and a wicked sense of humour to go along with it. The thing I really enjoyed is that she often laughs at herself, and doesn’t take herself too seriously, and she find ways to highlight the absurdities of life without being condescending or cruel. I’ve not been a reader of her column but I’ll definitely check it out now.

It is informal, and reads like she is telling you the story face-to-face. I was reading it in the car on the way to work with my father and he had to keep ask me why I was laughing! So I read out a few passages and he found them hilarious too :)

Her style may not be for everyone but I enjoyed it and found it entertaining. If you haven’t read her writing check it out before judging. If you have and didn’t enjoy it, maybe it’s just not for you. But don’t decide before you try! It certainly made a rough day a little easier to get through. Happy reading :)

The Sacred Games is a mammoth of a novel and a little hard to sum up in one tiny review. I have also been watching he show alongside, and so there areThe Sacred Games is a mammoth of a novel and a little hard to sum up in one tiny review. I have also been watching he show alongside, and so there are (embarrassingly enough) a few places where the two blend into one another, but this would not affect my review either way.

The novel follows two separate storylines. The first is of Ganesh Gaitonde, notorious Mumbai underworld lord, and the journey that brings him to where he is today. This is being narrated to a local Mumbai policeman, Sartaj Singh, son of another very distinguished police officer, a relatively well intentioned and honest, but divorced and lonely man, stuck in a rut in his career.

This novel has a host of other very colourful characters that is extremely wide and varied. It takes us into the kingdoms of criminals, the battles they fight, the intelligence they gain on each other, and their many tentacles in to the worlds of politics and entertainment. Corruption is rampant in this world, and you never really know whom you can trust, and who will betray you next. Chandra introduces crooked policemen, cunning politicians, ambitious starlets, holy men, immigrants and much more - it’s as if he has captured every shade of Mumbai.

Well written crime fiction is a rarity in the Indian literary scene, though I'm happy to see that changing a little. Chandra does a great job of moving a tale across continents and white and black money. It captures all of Mumbai's charming beauty in it's ugliness, it's dirt and its filth. There is a strong sense of Mumbai as a living breathing thing,which makes it very identifiable. It shows a love and yearning for Mumbai that exists in spite of the mess it’s in.

The novel does meander a bit her and there, but overall is a good entertaining read. It's a huge book but the plot moves fast, so I would not let the size or minuscule font overwhelm you.

I'm clearly on a post-independence Indian history reading spree. This is the first time (perhaps quite late) that I've read Shashi Tharo4 1/2 stars :)

I'm clearly on a post-independence Indian history reading spree. This is the first time (perhaps quite late) that I've read Shashi Tharoor, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This book was written in the late 1990s, and tracks India's history from 1947 to it's 50th birthday in 1997. He examines the course of our history, calling into question our trajectory and the way forward. He raises four questions at the beginning of the book, that he attempts to answer in the rest of the book:

1. The Bread vs freedom debate: Can democracy effectively alleviate poverty, and improve conditions in India, or do its inbuilt inefficiencies only impede rapid growth?2. Centralisation vs federalism debate: should federal govt have more power than state or local or is it best to have less centralisation? What is the best balance? 3. Pluralism vs fundamentalism debate: is secularism essential in pluralist society or should India find refuge in its religious identity? Is the definition of what it is to be Indian and Hindu going to increasingly narrow or can we thrive as a pluralist state, and use our diversity as a strength rather than a weakness4. The coca-colonization (globalization) vs self-reliance debate - does entry of western consumer goods help or hurt India? Should we worried about the economic reforms that have brought in the multinationals?

This book was originally published 20 years ago, so a fair amount has happened since then, but I really enjoyed the history till date for a few reasons.

First, I grew up during the license raj, and so reading about the extremely protectionist economic policies always strikes a chord for me, since I would covet the western array of chocolates, sweets and foods that my cousins, outside India, had access to. I remember when Lehar Pepsi first came to India, how excited we all were, and the quick succession of brands that followed it. This is perhaps a personal indulgence of a particular childhood nostalgia.

Secondly, some of these questions are still relevant now - the increase in fundamentalism, the increase of the "anti-national" rhetoric and the fact that things like civic sense are still lacking, while there is a fair amount of corruption still. The pluralism debate is very relevant still, as is the centralisation vs. decentralisation one.

What I like about Tharoor is he makes a solid attempt to investigate both sides of the coin before drawing a conclusion, and in making the case for both sides, invites the reader to pick their own side. He has included a lot of statistics and details to back these up, which also helps one feel more secure that there are numbers upon which to base any conclusions you might draw.

Often however, the narrative lagged under the sheer number of examples and statistics, and hence the pace slowed down somewhere around the "bread vs. freedom" debate chapter. The beginning and the end of the book had a much easier to read narrative style. However I'm not as much a nonfiction reader, so this may be a completely personal phenomenon.

Overall I think this book is highly educational and informative, and I do feel like you get enough information about both sides of the story to draw your own conclusions. I cannot wait to read more of his writing. Happy reading!...more

**spoiler alert** I stumbled across this book at a random Harper Collins event I attended in Delhi a few years ago, and had not gotten around to readi**spoiler alert** I stumbled across this book at a random Harper Collins event I attended in Delhi a few years ago, and had not gotten around to reading it until now. I am not someone who traditionally holds very strong political opinions so I read it with an open mind, but was prepared to be skeptical where necessary. This is a subjective account - it in no way claims or tries to be an objective historical statement of facts (though facts arguably may also be subjective) - this is personal. It is personal to her life and her experiences, while discussing what is going on in the nation as a whole.

Tavleen Singh writes in a style that is engaging and straightforward - it can actually be quite a fast and easy read. She mixes her interactions with various members of India's political class, and upper echelons of society (Delhi's drawing rooms as she likes to call it) with personal anecdotes of her interactions with India's not so privileged. She speaks about the hypocrisy of India's rich (quite correctly) towards their poor and a system of public services including health, housing and education, that fails our people again and again. It is actually these stories of the people on the streets that I found most fascinating in her account.

She also describes the history of Indian politics from Nehru's arguably dreamy ideals to the fall into dynasty politics and public welfare schemes that do not work. She discusses the Modi wave and what brought it to be. These are things I've often heard spoken about but rarely had the chance to read about, perhaps because I'm usually a fiction junkie and prefer to read about worlds that don't exist :) That said, I am not in a position to judge factual accuracy, and would have to read more before commenting on this portion.

The attacks on Sonia Gandhi can sometimes be grating because one gets the sense that this is a very personal grudge. Perhaps not unwarranted if the potshots she describes are true, but it sometimes undermines the whole thing, as the writing often felt vindictive. Also Singh's disdain for all things Congress can sometimes be a bit much. She is clearly anti socialist and perhaps she is right for what might benefit the masses is a more capitalist approach. She describes the current system as feudalism disguised as democracy - which is fair considering the levels of corruption and under the table dealings prevalent in our current systems.

However, she is notably more careful to criticise the current leadership, and often seems biased towards Modi. It is not to say that she is not correct in her assessment, but since she is so hard on all the other political leaders, one would hope that she would hold Modi to the same questioning and standards. She is not yet as hard on him as she is on the others. Arguably, she wrote this book quite early into his prime ministership, so perhaps that remains to come. I am interested to see her commentary on more recent events. I was relieved to see some acknowledgement of the unsettling force of the Hindutva, because this is something that seems like it could truly hold back India from progress. But there seems to be a slight bias, and perhaps one would need to read her later writing to see how that pans out.

However all in all her description of Indian politics and society in the last decades hits a chord, and helps us breakdown the shift our people has gone through in the years since Nehru's Tryst With Destiny speech. Furthermore, it shows us a mirror to our own hypocrisy. I've noticed some of the reviews pointing out her strong bias against Sonia Gandhi. Though this is accurate, I would say that you should read this anyway. Read this with an open mind, even if you disagree with her opinions. Sometimes it is healthy to read people with whom we don't agree, because there may be some things to consider that we have not yet thought of. I don't think we should be afraid of such writing because there are always things on the opposite side that can teach us, and there are always areas where our own blind spots push us in directions that are not completely objective themselves. Read this because there is a good portion, the stories of the people on the streets, that is not based on any political bent but just a harsh reminder of the realities in our major cities. It has helped me remember to be kinder towards our poor and not as hardened as I find myself becoming. If for nothing else, read it for this. ...more

I have been catching up on classics I somehow missed reading as a girl, and Jane Eyre is part of this endeavour.

This story needs no introduction of cI have been catching up on classics I somehow missed reading as a girl, and Jane Eyre is part of this endeavour.

This story needs no introduction of course - plain looking Jane Eyre is a powerful character who lives life on her own terms, no matter what hardship she goes through. From an abusive childhood home of her aunt, to boarding school to the house of Edward Rochester and beyond, she struggles against obstacles and refuses to bend or neglect her principles.

There are so many appealing things about this story. Firstly that neither Jane nor Mr. Rochester are good looking - the former is very ordinary looking and the latter not at all handsome. This specific description of them makes them much more relatable, and the fact that their love makes them find each other beautiful emphasises that even more.

The tragedy that pulls them apart elicits a very sophisticated series of emotions in Jane and makes her all the more complex and interesting as a character.

I’m usually not a fan of love stories but I really enjoyed the way this was executed. I think because more than just being sappy for the sake of it, it really portrayed how complicated life and relationships can be. The truth lies in the subtleties. For example, when Mr. Rochester is engaged to her, he tries to turn her into something she’s not by purchasing fineries and items of luxury for her. And although this isn’t what tears them apart on their wedding day, it does sort of show the imperfections already - and give the reader the sense that something is amiss.

One of the other things I really loved about this story is Jane’s spirit: no matter what the hardship, she comes at it and fights it. With every fall she picks herself up and tries again. It’s a beautiful thing to bear witness to: whether in fiction or in real life - and in terms of endings I prefer one of hope than a purely happy ending. We know that no matter what tragedy befalls Jane, she will be able to navigate it expertly, and come out stronger than she was before.

Many of the lessons we can learn from Jane are still relevant today, in spite of how different our society is now. I’m glad I went back to this one: this reader is very satisfied!...more

When Padma Bani Paula is the story of Padma Luxmi, a rebellious but brilliant girl from a traditional South Indian family. Padma finally escapes the cWhen Padma Bani Paula is the story of Padma Luxmi, a rebellious but brilliant girl from a traditional South Indian family. Padma finally escapes the confines of family rules, and breaks out into the world, building her career one step at a time, and undergoing many different transformations - one of which transforms her from Padma into Paula.

Padma is a protagonist we all root for - she is bold and fearless, but not without her insecurities and a healthy dollop of sass. Although this is quite a light read, her character really comes through and we go on this journey with her through various ups and downs. Each time she crashes, she picks herself up, dusts herself off, and tries again.

This is a story, overall, about hope. Terrible things happen to everyone, and we'd all be lying if we said that life doesn't get us down from time to time. But there is always hope of a better tomorrow, and that is what drives us forward Anupama Jain captures this beautifully, and as the story moves along, the reader falls a little bit more in love with Padma, page by page, sentence by sentence, word by word.

Besides being heartwarming it is also hilarious! Padma and her mother Sarada, are people I wish I could meet in real life, just to have conversations with them. They are fearless, sarcastic and witty. At the same time, I found myself really caring for Padma and mirroring her emotions as I read.

This is a funny, honest and moving light-hearted tale about a girl who does not give up. I really feared it would be cheesy, but I'm very happily proven wrong. I'm looking forward to reading more of Anupama Jain's writing. Happy Reading :)...more

**spoiler alert** “A Love Story for My Sister” juxtaposes two tales that are 150 years apart: that of Margaret Wheeler, kidnapped during the 1857 rebe**spoiler alert** “A Love Story for My Sister” juxtaposes two tales that are 150 years apart: that of Margaret Wheeler, kidnapped during the 1857 rebellion and of Tara Fernandez an 18 year old kidnapped in 1997.

Trying to make sense of her sister’s apparent Stockholm syndrome is Pia Fernandez, 11 at the time of Tara’s death, now in her late twenties. She is using the research and writing of a book on Margaret Wheeler to see if she could glean some understanding of why and how Tara may have been happy, and if so why she is murdered.

The story is told from three perspectives : Margaret, Pia and Tara (I’m not sure if this is a spoiler but marking it as such).

This book is a fascinating exploration of Stockholm syndrome - and has the effect of helping us identify with a victim who sympathises with her captor. It also gives us hope of goodness in the world. The back and forth narrative of Pia and Margaret really worked for me, and kept me engaged to learn more.

It also highlights a continued trend of violence against women for no fault of their own, which I think is a very relevant and important topic even rosy.

What didn’t work for me is having Tara’s viewpoint in the novel alongside the other two. Tara’s back story of her ordeal is definitely well put together and the transformations of her world view are subtle and well executed. However, after we have gotten used to Pia’s viewpoint it might have been nice not to get such an easy explanation of everything while Pia still struggled. Unless these scenes are happening in Pia’s mind that is - and I think it’s fine that these are unclear. But it sort of feels like cheating to be granted such easy access to her story without the torment and unanswered questions of anyone for a case like hers.

Overall though this is a quick and engaging read. Looking forward to reading more from this author.it has a bit of mystery but also a lot of raw emotions such as fear, anger and love. Happy reading :)...more

“If Mrs. Guinea had given me a ticket to Europe, or a round-the-world cruise, it wouldn’t have made one scrap of difference to me, because wherever I“If Mrs. Guinea had given me a ticket to Europe, or a round-the-world cruise, it wouldn’t have made one scrap of difference to me, because wherever I sat- on the deck of a ship or at a street café in Paris or Bangkok - I would be sitting under the same glass bell had, stewing in my own sour air.”

The Bell Jar is Sylvia Plath’s only novel, published just one month before her death by suicide. It is semi-autobiographical, chronicling protagonist Esther Greenwood’s struggles with depression and what may be bipolar disorder.

There are two major themes that the bell jar could represent. First is patriarchy - Esther feels that there is no escape to subjugation by men. At one point she observes:

“I knew that in spite of all the roses and kisses and restaurant dinners a man showered on a woman before he married her, what he secretly wanted when the wedding service ended was for her to flatten out underneath his feet like Mrs. Willard’s kitchen mat.”

She struggles with the expectation of becoming a wife and a mother, and is very clear in her own mind that these are things she does not want.

The second major theme is without a doubt, mental health. Esther’s slip into depression and consequent flirtation with suicide could perhaps be inspired by Plath’s own experiences. She is frustrated by the early care she receives and the lack of empathy from some of her doctors.

Although dark, this novel is witty with some very comical observations on Esther’s part. Her world view is quite relatable, and we find ourselves wondering if we might not have taken a turn like she did, and spiralled into mental illness. So for all of you out there that may avoid this book because it is heavy, please don’t - her humour and sarcasm make up for it.

I’m late to discover Plath, but I’m really glad I did. It’s too bad she did not write much more prose, but this one will stay with me a while. Highly recommended, guys!...more

Confession: I had to wait till I was at my parents house to read this because I live alone and have a grossly overactive imagination that really doesConfession: I had to wait till I was at my parents house to read this because I live alone and have a grossly overactive imagination that really does not need any assistance to imagine monsters in the dark.

Now that that's out of the way - Pishacha is a story of a demon, condemned to an eternal life of consuming human flesh. However, beyond just being a demon, he is a heartbroken spirit, who has pined for centuries at the loss of his one eternal love. Now that she has been reborn into a Mumbai household, he finds her again, and will stop at nothing to bring her back.

This book is intense: terrifying and gripping. But more than that, it's really nice to not have it be a straightforward good vs. evil story. All the characters have shades of grey - there are no characters that are totally good or totally bad. The Pishacha is someone whom we feel conflicted about: on the one hand he is this terrifying monster, but on the other, he is so tormented that we want him to win. He does not deserve the pain he feels, and we want to see that ease. He has the strongest character arc as well.

I enjoyed the historical element of the story, and how D'Silva sets up various pieces of the plot, and weaves them together skilfully, as the narrative progresses. You start to see how everything ties into everything else, and make your own connections.

The story is a page turner, and I definitely felt myself wincing on more than one occasion. It is a fast read too, so keep aside some uninterrupted time, lest like me, you'll get cranky with other humans trying to interrupt your reading time. I have not yet read Maya's New Husband, but it is definitely on my list.

This is a great book for horror and non horror fans alike: the story has elements that would appeal to a large and varied audience. Enjoy and happy reading!...more

"Brave New World", by Aldous Huxley is a dystopian novel about a new world order. Often compared to 1984, in Huxley's world order, there is a utopia o"Brave New World", by Aldous Huxley is a dystopian novel about a new world order. Often compared to 1984, in Huxley's world order, there is a utopia of sorts. Everyone belongs to everyone else, everyone is engineered and conditioned to function in a certain strata of society. The result? There is no desire, no ego, no violence, and yet no freedom. Attachment is prohibited, and families no longer exist. In this world, inspired by Henry Ford's assembly line concept, there is no God or religion, only the way of Ford.

People who live the old way do exist on a "savage reservation," where they still have monogamy, religion and suffering, where they still are born to parents, age, wither and die. But this is seen as uncivilised and barbaric.

In this society, Bernard Marx is a misfit. He cannot seem to get into the freedom, nor does he seem fond of taking soma, the leisure drug of choice with no side effects, whose use is encouraged in this new society. A trip to the savage reservation sets him on a course from which there is no coming back.

This book is often compared to 1984. They are similar in that they both acknowledge the fact that human beings natural states do not lend themselves to being rational and predictable. That by nature we are wild and emotional, and both books show societies that are tempered and controlled. However, Orwell's tale shows a more cruel regime, where in Huxley's people are actually happy and prefer the way they are, to the way of the savages.

One major theme of this novel is the dichotomy between happiness and freedom. Is it better to be free and suffer? Or is it better to be brainwashed and blissfully ignorant? What if you never had to worry about anything? Even if you were on the lowest rung of the totem pole, you would be happy to be there, because you are conditioned to be so. I feel that Huxley shows the positives and negatives of both sides rather evenly, if anything he does make us wonder why we aspire to be individuals and possess things and people.

Interestingly the death of suffering also means the death of art and truly experimental science, partly because there is no more ego. There is no more I, there is us. You are never alone. John Savage struggles with this, and the sexual promiscuity because he feels it is immoral. If anything, the story almost tells us that we have made our system of ethics too complicated, and that life could be a lot simpler. What if we could eliminate violence, by eliminating repression of desires. Would our societies change? Would we have to spend time in social causes. After recent events in the news in India, we have to wonder if there is some merit to this thought. I do not favour the idea of a society without freedom but if everyone were just happy, how would it be? Food for thought.

I simply loved this book. It made me think about the way we are as human beings on so many different levels. If you have not read it, do pick it up. Happy reading!

Turtle Dove, Divya Dubey’s collection of short stories, consists of 6 tales of those who skirt the fringes of society. They are the misfits, the onesTurtle Dove, Divya Dubey’s collection of short stories, consists of 6 tales of those who skirt the fringes of society. They are the misfits, the ones who struggle to toe the line, to obey unspoken rules.

‘The Science Wizard’ tells the tale of how a would-be genius takes a few darker turns and ends up on a different path altogether. ‘Arnab’ is a boy unlike the rest, and unwilling to conform to traditional gender roles. ‘Naani’ tells the story of a stalemate between a grandmother and granddaughter - and how her grandmother does not do what regular grandmothers do. ‘The Temptation’ tells a story of how all is not what it seems. ‘Best Friend’ dissects the meaning of friendship and questions whether certain characters are truly capable of friendship. ‘Turtle Dove’ boldly explores some pretty twisted family dynamics without judgement - simply observation.

Dubey has an incredibly strong voice and very well-developed characters. These stories are driven by the personalities within them, and that’s what makes them so enthralling. As twisted as they are, as a reader I found myself buying into the stories completely and without judgement. That sort of suspension of disbelief is rare - the one that goes hand in hand with a good read. If you’re game for getting out of your comfort zone, pick this one up!...more

I know I’m about two years late on this but I’ll be honest: I am still reeling from this Archana Sarat’s ‘Birds of Prey.’ It hit me like a punch to thI know I’m about two years late on this but I’ll be honest: I am still reeling from this Archana Sarat’s ‘Birds of Prey.’ It hit me like a punch to the gut.

Ex-policeman Anton Pinto has left the force and Mumbai, due to a near-death experience, but when well-to-do fathers start to disappear, he is coaxed to return to work on the investigation. As he matches his wits against that of a tortured and tormented mind, he risks it all to save an innocent life.

This book is beautifully gruesome, dark and twisted. Sarat’s prose, what she evokes through the different layers of character, paint a vivid story that lingers in your mind after you’ve put it down. I found myself internalizing the book almost completely, and that is how I knew I loved it. Her antagonist is one of the most powerful characters I have read in a while, and I found myself considering her less as fiction and more as someone flesh and blood - that’s how real she became for me.

This is not a story for the faint of heart. You will grit your teeth and wriggle in discomfort at the very raw and gory details she doles out but that is what makes it so powerful.

However it is one of those books that you think about when you’re away from reading it - I didn’t want to put it down: to the extent that I got irritated at anything that interrupted my reading time. If you like crime and suspense thrillers, pick this one up: you won’t regret it! ...more

**spoiler alert** The Old Man and the Sea is the story of Santiago’s epic struggle against the greatest catch of his life and nature/biology in genera**spoiler alert** The Old Man and the Sea is the story of Santiago’s epic struggle against the greatest catch of his life and nature/biology in general. The man against nature theme shows how one individual, left to his wits alone and lacking physical strength or proper equipment, must navigate against the elements.

I’ve read a lot of reviews that ask why he didn’t just cut the fish loose, and head back, therefore saving himself so much time and energy. It’s a valid question - and I wonder what it says about Santiago that he didn’t. He makes a decision to commit to the one large fish, against smaller individual catches for a reason - and I am not sure if I can articulate exactly what that is.Is it a metaphor for something? Perhaps Hemingway’s relationship with writing or his writing career?

If we place Hemingway in Santiago’s place, and The Old Man and the Sea as his big catch, perhaps it makes sense to see it in a different light? That he felt that the literary world had ceased to take him seriously and that the determination with which he wrote this story, in spite of all odds would be his big catch? Obviously we will never know for sure, but it definitely works on a deeper level in this case.

My edition had a lot of typos (including the spelling of “Hemingway” which was spelled “Hemmingway” and in an ironic turn of events it had the added effect of making me crave sushi. But overall it is a good read - if you can put aside the obvious question of why Santiago doesn’t just give up and go home. Or perhaps, you don’t need to put it aside, perhaps THIS is the most important question :) Some food for thought perhaps :)...more

Trickster is Vinaya Bhagat’s first novel - a suspense-filled page turner with a host of characters and darkness.

It is about a girl named Diya Mathur,Trickster is Vinaya Bhagat’s first novel - a suspense-filled page turner with a host of characters and darkness.

It is about a girl named Diya Mathur, who loses her parents in a strange accident, and moves to India for the summer to unravel certain secrets about her parent’s family. However, her dreams and her relatives are haunted by a mysterious figure called the Chakwa - the master trickster.

Does the Chakwa exist or is it a figment of their collective imaginations? If there is no Chakwa, then who is responsible for the series of murders that follows Diya wherever she goes? Can Diya escape the monster that lurks in the shadows?

First of all let me just say, that it is extremely refreshing to have the opportunity to read Indian writing that is something other than the extremely highbrow (Rushdie, Ghosh, etc.) and the Chetan Bhagats, Durjoy Dattas and Ravinder Singhs of this world.

This is a light read, but still draws you in and keeps you engaged till the very last page. Diya’s character is well-developed and isn’t stereotypically western or NRI, which as someone who has spent a lot of time between both sides of the world, I very much appreciate.

My only two critiques are very minor: one - there are a lot of characters who get introduced at the same time, and sometimes it’s a bit difficult to keep track of who is who. I would have loved a family tree as a reminder! The second is that although Bhagat has done a really great job of describing the setting, but sometimes she flips from one place to the next so quickly that we don’t know that the character is now standing inside or outside. Then again I’m easily confused so it could just be me!

That said, however, these are small things that were only a slight distraction. This is a fantastic and engaging debut, and I can’t wait to see what’s next from her.

It’s always nerve-wracking to read a close friend’s writing - and especially so when it is their writing that has just been published.

Fortunately witIt’s always nerve-wracking to read a close friend’s writing - and especially so when it is their writing that has just been published.

Fortunately with Piyusha Vir’s “Just Another Day”, I needn’t have worried at all. This collection of three short stories, Vir’s debut book, is available on Kindle, and did not disappoint.

Vir peels layers of the story off like an onion, revealing deliciously little at a time. All stories start like just any other day, rather nonchalantly, and keep building in the background, till she suddenly sticks in the metaphorical knife and twists it deep.

She has a way of exposing the story through the character’s train of thought, which is appealing, and lends itself to the suspense she builds. These characters are everyday people like you and me, each with their own set of neuroses, each with their own hangups and issues.

I knew I enjoyed this book because I got lost in her storytelling, and was able to disassociate the fact that I knew the author, from my experience of reading. And that is the best feeling, when I can confidently say that a collection is awesome, without feeling the pressure to do so to be nice.

My only complaint is when I got done, I wanted more stories! I look forward to the next collection, and hope Vir continues to surprise and delight us with her tales.

Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari, is a history of humankind, spanning from the dawn of the homo genus, including other spec**spoiler alert** 4.5 stars :)

Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari, is a history of humankind, spanning from the dawn of the homo genus, including other species such as Neanderthals, to the present day. It tracks why it is that Homo Sapiens came to dominate the planet, and what courses led us here.

Harari argues there were some major shifts in our history that led us to where we are today. He says that the first step was the cognitive revolution: in which we gained the capability of imagined realities allowing us to develop everything from religion to corporations. The second was the agricultural revolution that forever altered our way of life, and the third was the scientific revolution which led to the pursuit of knowledge - which had implications in power dynamics.

He gives us an interesting perspective on the events of human history, which makes you really question many of our preconceived notions about our past, the way we live our lives today, and the pursuit of progress. He offers few definitive opinions on the topic, preferring to let the questions linger in our mind. Happiness is another major theme - and understanding what exactly it is and how we should handle it.

The book drags a bit in the middle - particularly while discussing the imperial age. It could be that I’ve just studied this so much that things like “the white man’s burden” require much less explanation for me than they might for someone less familiar with it. But I did feel the pace slowed in between.

I’m no expert on history so I’m not in a position to confirm or debunk what he has presented here. But it’s an interesting and thought provoking read, even if you do not agree with all that he says. Enjoy this one!...more

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is a book by renowned blogger Mark Manson. It basically talks about the unhealthy patterns we develop in the waysThe Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is a book by renowned blogger Mark Manson. It basically talks about the unhealthy patterns we develop in the ways we think about and process our lives and the events within them.

He challenges many of the assumptions we make about what we should be doing and how we should be doing it. He discusses the ways in which we perceive pain and suffering, challenges things like this movement to be 100% positive all the time, and examines toxic relationship patterns along with our own unwillingness to take active responsibility for our lives. He talks about our grandiose expectations of ourselves and how if we persist with these we will always disappoint ourselves. He pushes his readers to question themselves and the way they think.

Manson echoes a lot of the discoveries that I am making in my own life, about the way I think and process things, and for me personally that felt good. I wouldn’t be able to say whether his advice is universally applicable or not, but I would say that a lot of people I know, that are stuck in unhealthy thought patterns could benefit from his perspectives. He is not peddling his book as the last word in living life either, he admits in the book that we all are wrong a lot of the time about a lot of things, we just need to be less wrong. We are continuously learning if we are open to change.

I would recommend this book for anyone who is going through a transition of sorts or reassessing their life. It may or may not work for you, but I think new perspectives are always healthy. I do think that a lot of what he says, and a lot of the advice he gives, would lead to better and healthier approaches to life and living. I also like that he does not preach, simply points out some truths that if we are honest with ourselves, we are all guilty of.

If you’re sick of overdone internet listicles that tell you all the things you should be doing in your life that you aren’t doing, if you want to introspect about negative occurrences in your life, or you just want a little entertainment, you may enjoy this read. It’s definitely worth checking out. Enjoy! ...more

I think this is an important book for many of us. In fact it was the subtitle "How to stop spending time you don't have doing things you d3 1/2 Stars.

I think this is an important book for many of us. In fact it was the subtitle "How to stop spending time you don't have doing things you don't want to do with people you don't like" that sold me on it.

Sarah Knight delivers a witty parody of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up," a book I would rather not comment on. Rather than physical clutter, she helps you with mental clutter - the things we care about that we really shouldn't waste our time and energy on.

The book is complete with a process, plenty of examples, and even workbook type exercises to help you along the way. It legitimises the fact that you may not care about certain things that society expects you to care about, and it encourages you to stay true to that - again - something that is very needed, particularly within the Indian context.

Where I struggled with this book was in a few areas.

One - which is no fault of the book's: this book is aimed at the uninitiated, the ones that have not yet stopped caring about useless things. It took the death of a close colleague for me to reach this point, about a month ago. Since then I have been eliminating "fucks" quite slowly and steadily. That is not a criticism of the book, but know that if you've already begun the process, you may tire of hearing how "living your best life" is at your fingertips over and over again.

Two - I like the informality of the language, but it sometimes gets irksome - particularly when she says things like "it's about to get a little woo-woo here" because things like that irritate me, and I guess I do care about them!

Three - It gets repetitive. After a little while you get the picture, and I feel like the book could have packed a more solid punch at half the length it ended up being.

That said, we all spend too much time worrying about nonsense things. Perhaps its time we stopped. If you are struggling, try picking up this book. It may help :)...more

Wow. That was my first reaction after closing this boon. In fact it was my first reaction when I picked up the book for the first time.

The story centWow. That was my first reaction after closing this boon. In fact it was my first reaction when I picked up the book for the first time.

The story centres around a few prominent members of Russian society. There is Anna Karenina, married to Alexey Alexandrovitch Karenin. She falls in love with the young Count Vronsky, a well-to-do military officer, and must grapple with the fact that her husband refuses to grant her a divorce.

Then there is Anna’s brother, Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky (Stiva) a rather jolly, oblivious, perennially broke fellow, who regularly falls for women who are not his wife, and his wife Darya Alexandrovna (Dolly). Her younger sister Katerina Alexandrovna Shcherbatskaya (Kitty) is selecting among suitors, one of whom is Oblonsky’s friend Levin, a man married to his life in the country.

Together these vibrant, colourful, and deeply flawed characters, along with a host of minor characters, weave a beautiful portrait of Russian society during this time. Many of these characters struggle against the societal norms, and some prosper, while others perish.

The storytelling is engaging, and draws you in, but it’s the personalities that really pull you in. I cringed at Anna’s inner turmoil, laughed at Oblonsky’s inability to take anything to seriously, and at several points during the second half of the book, wanted to give Levin a hug.

Overall this book is about many things. On the one hand it is about the complexities of human relationships, and that of the individuals within those relationships. Passion, disgust, anger, jealousy and betrayal are all explored. But it’s also got a healthy dose of social observations : not only on the Russian high society, but on class politics, the relationship of economic development to that of agriculture, and of religion and God. I had originally wondered how a love story, which is what I first thought this was, could be 760 pages, but then I realised how much more this was.

This was my first Tolstoy read, but I definitely don’t want it to be my last! Don’t let the length daunt you, you won’t regret picking it up. ...more

A Man Called Ove is both a character study: unwrapping the various layers of Ove, piece by piece, through stories of his past, as well as a story abouA Man Called Ove is both a character study: unwrapping the various layers of Ove, piece by piece, through stories of his past, as well as a story about a man opening himself up to the world and pushing himself out of his comfort zone. In a way it is a late coming of age story, about hope, life and new possibilities.

Ove is an exceptionally grumpy man who sees things in black and white, and finds it hard to relate to other people. Life has taught him that he doesn’t fit in well and this is the framework within which he exists.

Ove is a person you may not like very much when you first meet him, through the pages of this book. But as you experience the various shades of him, you start to love him. He is gruff and can’t help his antisocial tendencies but underneath it all he is capable of great love. With a motley crew of friends and neighbours by his side, Ove grudgingly learns to relate to the outside world, the one that has shunned him in all his previous experiences.

This is a heartwarming tale of love and loss, and of life and death. Although it is slow at times, it is heartwarming and funny, and quite a light read. One cannot help but chuckle at Ove’s inner monologue and his disdain for certain characters he encounters.

There is also a certain level of social commentary - regarding the “white shirts” - the bureaucracy that Ove has railed against his entire life. Although it is a secondary story, it is worth noting the blindness by which bureaucracy sometimes functions, and how arbitrary the rules can be, as well as the possibility of corruption.

Overall, a nice light read, and in general, in spite of everything, an uplifting story. I enjoyed this one. Happy reading :)...more